Newspapers / The Charlotte labor journal … / Sept. 20, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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.? iff ir V AND DIXIE FARM NEWS VOL. XXI: NO. M CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2t, 1*51 i* '! ■ 4 v ■' Subsrrintinn Pri.. IIM r>— V__ ■aaltm CONCILIATORY TREATY HUMILIATES JAPAN The signing of a treaty of peace with Japan by 48 former enemy States represents a great con trast to the war-inspired denun ciation of the Japanese between Pearl Harbor and the Japanese surrender in 1945. While the treaty is notable for its conciliatory treatment of ma jor issues, the Japanese empire is practically stripped of its terri torial conquests and confined to the four main islands of the em pire. The Japanese recognize the independence of Korea and renounce all claims to the Kunle Islands, Formosa and the Pesca dores, the Spratley, Paracel Is lands andother Pacific islands un der the trusteeship of the United Nations. The defeated country accepts the . United Nations’ trusteeship of Ryukyu (Okinawa) and Daite Islands; the Bonins, Rosario Is lands and other Pacific islands un Parace Bela and Marcus Island. Although the treaty is consid ered an exceptional venture in reconciliation one must also rec ognize that it humbles the proud people of Japan, relegating their nation to that of a second-rate power. The Japanese are, for the present, disarmed to an ex tent which makes necessary a special treaty with the United States under which this country j has the right and duty to mam- j tain armed forces in Japan Jor the purpose of defending that country from foreign attack and safeguarding it against internal revolution instigated by a foreign power. » The humiliation of the self-ap pointed leaders of Asiatic peonies is complete even If the victorious powers exacted only a minimum of the punishment threatened during the war itself. One may sum it up in the state ment of General Carlos P. Romu lo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the Philippine Islands, who de clared: “It’s not that we will let by-gones be by-gones but making sure that by-gones will not hap pen again.” * • * PROTECTION FROM PRIVILEGED SOLDIER There is no doubt but that the immunity granted to members of Congress has resulted in the mis use of the privilege, with the re sult that there has been as Sec retary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin says, “irresponsible slander from the privileged sanctuaiy of the Senate of the United States.” Mr. Tobin does not believe that the men who founded this country intended for the Senate to be a “citadel for slanderers to hide in from libel suit.” While he called ( no names, the inference is that he referred to the attacks of Sen ator Joseph R. McCarthy, of Wis consin, who has repeatedly made charges in the Senate which he does not. repeat outside the priv ileged halls of that legislative ..... Then are some members of Congress interested^ devising a plan to protect individual* from, each charges. The proposal “has been made that whenever Con* grass prefers charges against an individual, the person accused has the right to make a reply, which shall be read on the floors of Congress and inserted as a per manent part of the Congressional Record. In addition, it is sug gested that whenever a person stands accused before an investi gating committee, the individual be acquainted with the charges, have an opportunity to appear and to cross-examine those who make the accusations. These suggestions are timely. They do no violence to the Amer ican doctrine of fair play or to the belief that a man should be considered innocent until proven guilty. Heretofore, slanderous charges have been made against citizens of the nation and spread throughout the country as “a rev elation” of a congressional com mittee. The accusations have been made public without permitting the accused to be heard, or, in some instances, even know of them prior to their appearance in the public prints. • • • WHERE DO WE GO FROM KOREA? The failure of the conference at Kaesong to produce an -armistice agreement and the complications which have developed in connec tion with this effort to end the fighting in that area moves some Americans to wonder what will be the outcome of. the warfare in Korea. If the Communists finally agree to the terms of an armistice and, subsequently, agree upon condi tions that make further fighting unnecessary, it will not mean the withdrawal of all United Nations forces. Obviously, a Communist agreement is worth little or noth ing. Prompt withdrawal of Unit ed Nations strength would invite the North Koreans or the Chinese Communists to renew their ag gression. Consequently, even if the armistice succeeds, the end of our military involvement in the area is not in sight. Let us look at the other side of the picture. Suppose the confer ence completely breaks down and no agreement is reached. What then? The United Nations will face a decision as to its future policy in Korea. The necessity for this decision could be elimi nated by renewal of offensive ac tion by the Communists. If this occurs, our policy will naturally be to withstand the attack and, at the right time, take the offensive against Communist forces in Ko rea. If the Communists, after refus ing to reach any agreement, sit on their arms, the United Nations will have to determine what should be done. We could like wise sit on our arms without do ing more than maintaining suffi cient strength to contain the r*om munist armies. On the other hand, we could undertake an of fensive, designed to drive the Communist military forces out of North Korea. We could also, if we deem it wise, take offensive action designed to broaden the struggle into an all-out fight with the Communists in Asia. We doubt the advantage of any offensive action by our forces, with the deliberate intent of enlarging the scale of the war. This does not mean, however, that, if neces sary to meet Communist military offensives, we should not use our forces to their best advantage in the Korean struggle. If the bomb ing of Manchurian bases is deem ed advisable by our military com manders, for the maintenance and improvement of our military po sition in Korea, then it should be undertaken, regardless of the pos sibility that such action might en large the conflict. In the overall world picture, however, we should not lose sight j of the prime factor in interaation- ! al affairs. This involves Western Europe where industrial and po tential resources exist, which, if acquired by Communist Russia, would tip the scales against the United States in a tremendous war. The struggle between Com munism and the free peoples of the world will not be decided in Asia, but. eventually, it will be decided in Europe. Consequently, it is not advisable for us to be come too deeply involved in an Asiatic struggle until, and unless, we have sufficient armed power to take care of the strategic bat tlefield in Europe. A limited war in Asia can hard ly be avoided if the Communists want to continue the fighting. This is hardly likely,- in our opinion, unless the Russians are now ready to take the sr.sk of another great war. If Russia is not prepared to take this gamble, it would be foolish for the Communists to con tinue the war in Korea, because it is becoming a training ground for the fighting forces of the free world. Our system of rotation, now in effect, means that our army, air free and naval forces (Continaed On Page 4) Crusade for Freedom Motorcade (CniMde tor Freedom Photo) Shown above are the truck and station wagon tannine the motorcade that will tour the state to demonstrate how the Crusade for Freedom penetrated the Iron Curtain with balloons contain ing massages of freedom and hope. Both rubber and plastic “pit low” balloons snch as were launched In Csecho-slovakia and Poland, will be released at each stop nude by the motorcade. Enrollments and proceeds of the campaign to enlist 25.MMM members and obtain $3,5dt,M# in contributions will be used to expand Radio Free Europe’s anti-communist propaganda opera tion and start a similar undertaking with Radio Free Asia. NEW YORK, Sept, 18. — Ap pointment of top ranking labor i leaders as vice chairmen for the Crusade for Freedom was an-' nounced today by Harold E. Stas- - sen, national chairman of the or ganization's current drive for, members and funds. The new vice chairmen are, Daniel T. Tobin, president of the ■ International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL; James B. Carey, secretary-treasurer of the CIO, j and W. P. Kennedy, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. In announcing the appointments, Stassen said: “Labor has a tre mendous stake in the struggle against international communism. Behind the Iron Curtain there is ( no free<iom of labor. Unions are j merely tools of the Communist Party. “Therefore we are particularly hsnrv Jthat these outstanding cahmpions of American labor have joined in the leadership of this year’s Crusade for Freedom. “Their willingness to help in the struggle against communisn is added proof of America’s de termination to fight the Red rul ers with the truth, which the Crusade is bringing to the op pressed people behind the Iron Curtain by Radio Free Europe and by freedom balloons." Goals of the Crusade campaign this month are 25,000,000 enroll ments and contributions of $3, 500,000 with which to continue and expand its anti-communist broadcasting programs abroad, including Asia. SENATE VOTES 1$ PCT. PAY HIKE FOR ONE MILLION U. S. WORKERS Washington.—(LPA)—The Sen ate has voted a 10 per cent pay increase for 1,000,000 Federal workers. The raises range from |225 to 3800 maximum, and tne average is |370. Cost is estimat ed at $340 million. Previously the Senate had voted pay raises of $400 to $800 for 500,000 postal employes, at an es timated cost of $250 million. Both increases are retroactive to July 1. OPS Okays New Price Increase On “Cheaper” Cots Of Beef And Pork WASHINGTON (LPA)—Those high meat prices are go ing up another cent or two a pound, courtesy of the “horse meat” Congress. The Office of Price Stabilization has had to grant the increased meat prices because packers are los ing money on hides and tallows, and the law permits profit losses on one item to be made by increased prices on other commodities. OPS officials said the increases would mainly be on the “cheaper” tuts of beef and some pork prod ucts. OPS said the only altera tive would have been to cut live rattle price*. Bu this would have been impractical because “pack ers have been experiencing diffi culty in obtaining cattle at the present live cattle ceiling price*.” Wilson 6 Co.—on* of the Big Five meat packers—said the in creases were not enough and would . not help it "buy beef on the hoof.” The company suspend ed slaughtering operations the week of September 17 and will do the same at least one week in every succeeding accounting pe riod. A company official said “our problem is to remain in com pliance with livestock ceiling prices . . . and we can’t buy cattle and stay under the ceilings as long as the seller* demand over-the ceiling prices.” The American Meat Institute wasn’t satisfied with the new ceil ings either. It said packers have been losing money and many are going out of business. , Meanwhile, OPS approved price increases ranging from $55 to $400 on Ford, Plymouth, Mercury, Dodge, DeSoto, Lincoln and Chrysler automobiles. General Motors applied for increases of $60 to $206 at retail on Chevro let*, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiies, Buicks and Cadillacs. These probably will get official approval in the near future. • There were these other develop ment* on the price front: i. A Senate Banking Subcom mittee heard proa and cons on three Administration - requested changes in the controls law. The Western States Meat Packers as* sociation told te Senators the re imposition of slaughter controls would lead to black markets and would favor the big packers. Price Boss Michael V. DiSalle insists slaughter controls are the only way to control black markets. Un der the controls—dropped by Con gress in the new controls bill—a slaughterer was limited to killing the same number of cattle in any given month this year that he did in the comparable month of 1950. The National Farmers Union asked the subcommittee to repeal the Cape hart amendment which per mits sellers to pass on to cus tomers post-Korean cost increases. NFU said it was time to freexe prices once and for all and stop “creeping legalised inflation.” 2. OPS enforcement officers pre pared to move against 43 retailers j who have failed to file price charts 1 with the government. Enforee ; merit Boss Edward P. Morgan said : injunctions would be sought to i force filing of the charts or pre pare the way for criminal prose cution of the retailers. The bulk of the cases were in New York, j New Jersey and Florida. 3. The Commerce and Industry ; Association of New York, Ine., asked OPS to make several revis | ions in its control of prices ot exports. The association wants sales to Puerto Rico, Hawaii and other U. S. territories and pos I sessions included in the export i controls order rather than under domestic price controls. It also ' wants liberalisation of export j price controls to make greater ; allowances for seasonal items I shipped abroad. W. r. Kennedy, president of the Brotherhood of Knilreed Trainmen. Buildings Trades Main Target Is Repeal T-H San Francisco.—(LPA) — Over ' 200 dele {rates to the 44th annual convention of the AFL Building Trades Department here reaffirm ed “outright repeal of the Taft Hartley act” as their main tar get. Though the department is seek ing amendments to legalize union shop agreements in the construc tion industry, there has been no change in its position for repeal of that law, the convention said. Among resolutions adopted was one calling for a greater voice for small business in the defense program. “The small employer's ability to survive and prosper is closely linked to the future of American labor with its high working standards” the resolu tion declared. P AH members «f the exoeutjep council were re-elected. They are Presidents L. P. Lindelof, Paipt ers; William J. McSorley, Lathers; Daniel J. Tobin, Teamsters; Robert Byron, Sheet Metal Work ers; Wm. E. Maloney, Operating Engineers; Martin P. Durkin,, Plumbers; Vico President M. A. Hutcheson, Carpenters, and Sec retary-Treasurer Peter Fosce, Buildinar Laborers. President Richard J. Gray and Secretary - Treasurer Joseph D. Keenan carry over and were not subject to election at this conven tion. Organized labor’s main battle with tough employers has shifted from the economicc to the politi cal front, AFL Secretary-Treas urer George Meany told the con vention. In the old days when the em ployers "tried to starve us out, prevent recognition of our unions and beat us by injunctions, we had to fight back and we did fight back," Meany said. “Now the employer’s method is different. It is to beat you down through legislative action — in Congress and the state legislatures. “They are going to pass fur ther restrictive legislation unless we get ourselves some friends. We are not going to win those battles on the picket line. Wa have to win them in the political arena. “We cannot protect ourselves from this vicious anti-labor legis lation unless we get into the po litical field, and elect our friends —people who are willing to give us a fair break. The No. 1 proj ect of organised labor is to get into the ballot box the votes of your members and friends." Reversing usual roles, a repre sentative of industry argued for greater recognition of the rights of labor. Peter W. Eller, executive sec retary of the Building Trades Employers' Association of New York City, invoked a famous pa pal encyclical—“Rerum Novarum" (On the Condition of Labor) — to justify his stand. “For me that encyclical," Eller said, “means the dignity of la bor—the right, indeed, the neces sity, for men to participate in trade union movement; the right of such unions to collectively bar gain and seek better conditions of employment—and also the right Green Pledges AFL To Continue Fight ainst Communism SAN* FRANCISCO (LPA) — A pledge that American the fight against Russia until that haftion is decisively beaten’* and a demand that Congress •protect the consumers of America” with adequate price controls before adjourning were highlights of AFL Presi Green’s address to the Federation’s 70th con veiitibn here. Daniel ToWn, president ef the AFL Tenautere Union. ft- "n',ii|i !■ Ian** B. Carey, secretary treasurer ol the CIO. “WAGES AFTER TAXES" URGED tN COMPUTING COST OF LIVING INDEX Washington (LPA) — Income taxes paid by workers should be included in the cost of living in dex, the AFL Machinists has de clared. Until taxes are included, figures of the Bureau of Labor Statistics “will continue to be a share and a delusion,” says an editorial in the union’s weekly, The Machinist. Noting that in the past 10 year* taxes have more than doubled tor families that must live on $60 to $70 a week while those with $50,000 a year are pay ing about the same amount as in 1941, the editorial says "today income taxes are a major factor in the cokt of living of almost every union family." “We had better start thinking about the effect of higher taxes on wage rates,” it continue*. “A long time ago the corporations learned that the only profits worth considering are profits ’aft er taxes.’ Certainly we have greater justification for talking ’wages after taxes.' The govern ment takes its cut before we even see our money. “Every major labor organisa tion testified before Congress last Spring urging that the index show the increases in income taxes. So far, nothing has been done. “Until we get a liberal ma jority in Congress, a majority not big business minded, our deduc tions for taxes are going to grow and grow and grow.” of free enterprise and to acquire and hold property. “It is not enough, I think, to proclaim loudly and frequently that free enterprise and private porperty must be preserved. We cn the side of ownership or man. agement should be just as anxious to proclaim just as loudly and frequently that trade unions must be preserved. If unions go, so doe# free enterprise. They go together.” wrren wia me only alternative to Congressional inaction is to “unite politically at the ballot box amf vote to keep at home those Congressmen who refuse to act for us.” (The administrative committee of Labor's League for Political Education said flatly that “there is no question we have the votes to elect a friendly Congress, in 1062.") “We will never remain passive or accept the tyranny of Commun ism” Green declared. He was loudly cheered by the 700 dele gates when he hailed the AFL as leading the “great army” of <10 million workers around the world affiliated with the International Confederation of Free Trde Un ions. “I am sure,” he said, “the AFL feels that this government must carry on the war in Korea until Russia is decisively defeat ed.” Delay by Congress until the January session to consider fur ther price control legislation, Mr. Green said, “would be an unwar ranted gamble with the wages and pocketbooks of the American worker.” Demanding repeal of the three price control amendments denounced by President Truman, he said wages have not kept pace with prices in the. inflationary race. Secretary of Labor Maurice To bin evqked loud Applause with a demand for an entirely new Is* bor-management relations act to replace the “hostile” Taft-Hartley act. Attempts to patch up the pres ent labor law, Tobin said, fall short because “they don’t get at the spirit of the act.” He de clared, ‘T doubt If all the amend ments in he world could change it. “The notion that seizure should be bandied in such a way that the employer goes on collecting hie profits and only the union is hurt has no place in a fair and equitable labor law. “The important thing is to make government intervention such an uncertain process that both sides will prefer to settle the dispute without it. Under the Taf-Hartiey law, there isn’t any uncertainty at all. Both sides know exactly what the govern ment will do.” SUIT FILED FOR BACK TRAVEL PAT Evansville, Ind.—(LPA)—Suit for $1,000,000 for travel pay was filed here on behalf of 60,000 CIO Communications Workers against Western Electric Co. Employee traveling for tho Arm were un derpaid by that amount in the last two years because wages for trav eling were below the amount pro vided la the Federal wage-hour law, it was charged. Plaintiffs in the suit are Local President Kenneth A. Silvers and two other CWA members, but At torney Wilbur F. Dassel explained the action would affect all em ployee involved. PLASTERERS OFFICIAL DIES AWAITING AFL CONVENTION ______ San Francisco (LPA) — While awaiting the opening of the AFL national convention, Micchael B. Gallagher. 61. a vice president of the International Association of Plasterers and Cement Finishers, died here of a heart attack.. A plasterer for 40 years, he had been secretary and then president of the Union’s local 60, New York City, becoming an interna* tional officer 8 years ago. He was Democratic leader of the 8th Assembly District in New York’s Queens borough and a past presi dent of the Holy Name Society in St. Kevin’s parish, Flushing, IkT TT
Sept. 20, 1951, edition 1
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